Iran postponed the last funeral procession and burial of late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei after an overwhelming number of mourners in Iraq extended the scheduled ceremonies, state media said. The final procession in the holy city of Mashhad, originally scheduled for Thursday morning, has now been postponed to 2 p.m. local time on Friday before Khamenei is laid to rest later in the day.
The delay follows big funeral ceremonies in the Iraqi holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, in which millions of mourners attended their final respects. Iranian media said at least four million people attended the procession in Karbala alone, making it one of the largest public gatherings during the week of mourning ceremonies.
The processions drew religious scholars, political leaders, resistance groups, tribal leaders and thousands of pilgrims from all over the world. Iraqi authorities deployed elaborate security arrangements to keep people in line and control the huge crowds as mourners led the funeral cortege through the two prestigious Shia cities.
Iran Thanks Iraq For Hosting Funeral Ceremonies
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi thanked Iraq's government, religious authorities and people for hosting the funeral ceremonies with what he described as “warm hospitality” and massive public participation.
In a post on X, Araghchi wrote: “All gratitude and appreciation to the brotherly Iraq—its government, people and religious authorities—for the warm hospitality and dignified farewell in escorting our martyred Imam with broad popular participation."
He said the relationship between the two neighbouring countries is based on “shared history and values and destiny” and “the bonds between Iran and Iraq transcend geographical borders and neighborly ties, and extend to a deeply rooted history, shared values and a common destiny.”
Araghchi ended with a message of gratitude, saying, “the Iraq of generosity and authenticity for this loyalty."
Body Taken Through Holy Shia Cities
Khamenei’s body arrived in Karbala after funeral ceremonies in Najaf, another of Shia Islam’s holiest cities, the Iranian state news agency IRNA said. The procession through the major religious centres in Iran and Iraq was part of a week-long series of ceremonies attended by millions of mourners before the final burial in Mashhad.
Mashhad, which is the home of Imam Reza Shrine, is held by Shia Muslims and was chosen as Khamenei’s final resting place. The officials have laid out elaborate plans for the final funeral procession, which is expected to draw another huge crowd despite the changed schedule.
The funeral is a culmination of several days of nationwide mourning in Iran and neighbouring Iraq, reflecting the regional significance of Khamenei’s leadership and the close religious and political ties between the two countries.
